Amid the bling and glamour, Arabian Business found out that a few of the city’s elite have just been paid around AED9,175 ($2,500) to star in season two of popular Netflix series, Dubai Bling.
The streaming giant has, since then, reportedly placed the stars of the reality show under investigation.
In addition to that, popular Saudi star Amy Roko, who is a comedian and rapper, was asked to leave show after filming started for Dubai Bling second season.
Roko was told she would be part of a “dating” storyline, which she was uncomfortable participating in.
That being said, here is a round-up of all that’s happened ahead of Dubai Bling Season 2:
- Dubai Bling: Netflix launches investigation into salary leak scandal
- Revealed: Netflix paid Dubai Bling stars just AED9,175 each
- Dubai Bling season 2: Saudi star Amy Roko says ‘no comment’ over firing scandal
- Dubai Bling season 2: Netflix fires Saudi superstar Amy Roko over “dating” storyline
Dubai Bling: Netflix launches investigation into salary leak scandal
Arabian Business revealed stars paid less than AED10k each
Netflix has launched an investigation after the salaries of the Dubai Bling cast members were published last week by Arabian Business.
Sources say the company, which is currently filming season 2 of the reality TV show, is “determined to find the mole” who leaked the information.
Arabian Business last week reported that the cast of Dubai Bling each received just AED9,175 each for each episode of season one. They were offered a 5 percent pay increase for appearing in season two.
The revelations have also caused huge embarrassment to cast members who have been demanding considerably higher sums for public appearances. “I cannot ask for AED100k anymore to open a new shop because everyone knows I charged less than AED10k for the show. This is a massive problem,” one cast member said.
Another cast member, who ask not to be identified, said the leaking of the salaries “has caused rifts between the cast – everyone is wondering if it was one of the cast who did it. I know a couple of people are privately accusing me.”
Netflix, sources say, is to reiterate to cast members the confidentiality clauses in their contracts and NDAs signed, whilst interviewing several other individuals who may have had access to the information.
“This has been one of many leaks and Netflix wants to nip it in the bud,” the source adds.
Revealed: Netflix paid Dubai Bling stars just AED9,175 each
Stars offered 5% pay rise for season 2
The cast of Netflix’s hit show Dubai Bling were paid just $2.5k (AED9,175) each for filming each episode, Arabian Business can reveal.
The show – which Netflix claims centres around the lives of ten Dubai-based “millionaires”, was last week confirmed to run for a second season, with filming now underway.
But despite portraying a lavish lifestyle, featuring private helicopters and fast cars, the actual cast received minimal sums for appearing in eight episodes.
The $2.5k (AED9,175) fee is being increased by 5 percent – just AED458 extra each for the second season. However, any new cast member – such as Mona Kattan – will only be paid the basic AED9,175 fee.
“Some of these guys were so desperate to be famous so the fee wasn’t an issue, they would have probably done it for free,” says a show insider.
By comparison, the Kardashians were paid $100 million for two seasons and 40 episodes of The Kardashians, according to Variety. Some of the family earned around $15 million each for filming.
Netflix is valued at $160 billion, with revenues of $7.85 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. It also added an additional 7.66 million subscribers during the same period.
Dubai Bling season 2: Saudi star Amy Roko says ‘no comment’ over firing scandal
The Saudi influencer’s comments came one day after news broke that she had been fired from the reality TV show Dubai Bling
Amy Roko answered “no comment” when asked about the news that she had been fired from season 2 of Netflix’s Dubai Bling.
Arabian Business yesterday revealed that the Saudi influencer had been fired from the show shortly after filming began after a disagreement arose regarding her storyline which was set to include dating. A development that Roko was uncomfortable with.
Roko’s no comment was made to Harper’s Bazaar Arabia on Thursday.
“I know who I am and what my values are,” Roko said.
“I’m Arab and evil eye is real! All I’ll say is stay tuned because bigger and better is just around the corner!” she added.
On Wednesday, a source told Arabian Business that Roko was fired via an email, “saying that Netflix didn’t feel she was the right fit for the storyboard so they wouldn’t be continuing with her.”
Dubai Bling season 2: Netflix fires Saudi superstar Amy Roko over “dating” storyline
Saudi star asked to leave show after filming started for Dubai Bling second season
Saudi superstar Amy Roko – the niqab wearing comedian and rapper – has been dropped from season 2 of Dubai Bling, Arabian Business can reveal.
The 29-year-old Saudi, who has never publicly revealed her name or face – was secretly lined up as a new cast member for Season 2 of the Netflix hit show, for which filming recently began. Sources say that Roko was told she would be part of a “dating” storyline, which she was uncomfortable participating in.
“The next day she got an email saying that Netflix didn’t feel she was the right fit for the storyboard so they wouldn’t be continuing with her,” a source told Arabian Business.
Arabian Business reached out to Netflix who declined to comment.
Roko has become a social media sensation with over 1.6 million followers on Instagram. She first started performing comedy sketches on Vine in 2015. In 2019 she quit her job to work in social media full time and has since worked with huge brands including Levi.
In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan Middle East, she said: “When I was in eighth grade, I told my mum I wanted to go on TV. She called up the station and told them her amazing, super funny daughter wanted to join one of their segments, but eventually when they found out that I cover my face they straight up said no. He told my mum that pretty girls don’t cover-up, and she subsequently had to tell me that I couldn’t go on TV. Now I have amassed this huge social media following, it’s like a big F you to that producer.”
The first series of Dubai Bling – which claims to follow the lives of Dubai-based “millionaires”, became one of the most watched ever Netflix shows to be created in this region.
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